The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-07-17
The st. THOMAS HORROR.
REVIEW or THE APPALLING
DEATH.DEALlNG DISAsrEK.
Tremendous Explosions Heard for
Miles-Dwelliug' and Places
ofBLsiucss Burned.
TWELVE BODIES RECOVERED
FROM the DEBRIS.
The Casualtes Will Numbpr Over
0ne Hundred-Fearfut
Scenes.

DETROIT, MICH, July 16. A
special from St. Thomas, Ont, in
relation TO the railroad disaster there
yesterday, places the number OF killed
at nineteen and the injured at above
forty. After the collision occurred
the passengers commenced emerging
from the car windows, every availa-
bic means Of egress being taken ad
vantage OF. A majority OF the pas
sepgers 10 the car next TO the engine
had been got out, when the engine
plunged into the train. Engineer
Connolly was found in the cab with
his hand on the lever still, as il en-
deavoripg to make the air brakes
work. To add additional horror 10
an already sufficiently appalling affair,
the section OF the freight train into
which the engine of the passenger
train ploughed, consisted OF two cars
containing tanks filed with crude
oil, and almost before the passcnge
heard the crash Of the collision, il
was followed by a tremendous explo-
sion which could be heard for miles.
A pyramid Of red fire and black
clouds lowered up in the air, and in
moment sheets OF FIRE reached out
and enveloped cars, dwellings and
warehouses in the vicinity. The
burning oil was scattered around in
all directions, setting fire to Griffins
coal and salt warehouses, j. l..
Campbells dwelling and watch
house and another structure in the
vicinity, destroying all Of these and
causing q loss Of about $l50,OOO.
Herman Ponsford, Of the FIRE depart
ment, was literally
ESCIRcLED BY A VOLUME OF PIRE
and when the smoke cleared away IL
was seen that, from head to foot, he
was covered with flames. His in
juries are Of q horrible nature aud
he cannot recover. Chief Walbourne
was seriously burned about the head
and face. John McKellar was
burned badly on the face and hands.
W. LETTERS was burned on the face
and hands. Nelson Golisby, burned
on the face and hands; Ed. Moore,
burned on the face aud hands. En-.
sineer Berne, OF the Grand Trunk
railroad, was . mass OF flames. His
clothing was stripped from his body
by willing hands aud he was taken
home 10 a cab. The eight year old
son OF X. Cattley was enveloped in
flames and caunot recover. Among
the others injured are Charles CHS.
holm, John Sterling. Allie Nors-
worthy, Arch Noteworthy, Thomas
johnson, Thomas Doherty, ID. Nc.
Cullom, Martha Lamery, Frank
Qseen, Charles Dake, j. Alderman
and scores Of others, many Of them
fatally. A. Francis. United States
Consul, was struck by hose reel
and terribly injured. His recovery
Is doubtful. The bodies that were
among the FIRST 10 be recognized
were those OF II. Donnelly, engineer
OF the excursion train; j. Smithers,
wife aud daughter, aud A. Zealand
and daughter. As soon as the crash
came the utmost confusion arose aud
the
sBRIEKs or THE WOMEN AND
CHILDREN
were heartrcuding. In a moment
the flames broke out. Mr.. A. Ii.
Remey and Mr.. A. A. Drake at once
rescued Mrs. King aud Mrs. Wegg
and their children through the win
dows, and others also clambered
through Windows.
la an interview, Mrs. King said
that before the accident she noticed
that Mrs. Zealand and Mrs. Smithers
were seated together in the second
seat from the forward end Of the car.
Mrs. Smithers and her three months
old baby in her arms on the left hand
side, Mrs. frame being seated oppo-
site her. Mr.. Z.aland, with his two
months old baby, was seated on the
opposite side. There we're also two
large men seat or two behind Mrs.
Zealand aud Mrs. Smithers. She did
not notice who they were. OF the
eight but one, Mrs. Zealand, is known
10 have escaped.
Alexander Watson, the Grand
Trunk railroad brakemi an, was blown
up in the air by the explosion and
bad his collar bone broken by the
fall. w. Chudley was run over by a
hose reel and had leg broken.